Improvement in steam-boiler low-water alarms and fire-extinguishers



B. R. SINGLETON'.

Improvement in Steam Boiler Low Water Alarms, f and Fire-Extinguishers .NO. 123,795. v Patented Feb.20,1 872.

T I u/WH -INVENT.OR= U V 75;

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

BENJAMIN B. SINGLETON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO HENRY S. HOPKINS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-BOILER LOW-WATER ALARMS AND FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,795, dated February 20, 1872.

Specification describing certain Improvements in Steam-Boilers, invented by BENJA- MIN R. SINGLETON, of Saint Louis, in the county of Saint Louis and State of Missouri.

My invention relates to a combination of levers, valves, and springs with a float on the surface of the water in the boiler, so that the falling of the water therein will, by the consequent movement of the float, open the valves and permit the steam to escape from the boiler. It relates also to an arrangement for discharging the steam over the fire-bed for the purpose of dampening it down, all of which will be more fully set forth in the description, reference being had to the drawing and letters of reference marked thereon, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the dome and part of the boiler. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, on a horizontal plane, of the gauge-box. Fig. 3, a front elevation, and Fig. 4, a side elevation of the same.

In the drawing, A represents the dome, to be of cast-iron, about eight inches diameter and twelve inches high; but any other convenient dimensions may be used or any other metal be employed. This dome is placed on the top of the shell of the boiler B, to which it is attached by any suitable means. In this case I use an intermediate plate, P, with central boss on it for connecting the gauge-box C to it. It is of the same curvature as the outside of the boiler-shell, as seen in Fig. 1, and fastened to it by the usual bolts to make a steam-tight joint. 0 is the gauge-box, made of brass or composition, attached to plate P by a screw-joint. The gauge-cocks G G G are of the usual form-to be of brass or composition. The valve H and valve-rod to same in the dome are connected to the slotted bar E by a bell-crank, K, inside of the gauge-box 0, having on the rod a projecting arm, Y, and just above it a sleeve, 0, to which is connected a curved rod, U, having attached to it a camrod, 1", and. cam R, which is on the end of a rock-shaft, t, which passes through the shell of the dome, and. on the outer end of which is a lever, T, to which a rope, chain, or flexiblerod may be attached. The arm Y is designed to come in contact with Y, which is a similar arm extending from a bent lever, K, to which is attached the stern of the valve I. h and i are springs. The bell-crank K is connected with the bar E, which has a projecting ledge, e, on top, and a projection on each side, 6 e.

D is a float, to be placed inside of the boiler at the end of a lever, L, having the bent end of it, L, passing through the slot S of the bar E. This lever is pivoted on a bracket, F, at f, which bracket is iastened to the inside of the boiler.

Operation.

When the water in the boiler is at the proper gauge for safety this apparatus remains as represented in the drawing, having all the gauge-valves in the boiler closed; but when the water falls below the level of safety the float falls with the water, and will cause the short arm L of the lever to force the valvestem or bar E so as to open the valve G and permit the steam to enter the dome, and thence out of valve H to the alarm-whistle as a primary warning; or it may also be conveyed to the pump doctor to supply more water. Should the water continue to fall from any cause, the rod E will be carried further out, and the bosses c 6 will open two other valves, G G, and the valve H, atthe top of the dome, will be closed, and the arm Y will at the same time, by acting on Y, open I the valve 1, and all of the steam will be discharged through a pipe immediately upon the fire-bed and extinguish the fire. The sleeve 0, being'carried down by the rod, the lever U will consequently operate the rod 1" and cam R, and the lever T, outside, with the connection from it to a bell or gong, will indicate when this result takes place.

What I claim is 1. The combination of the float D, bent lever L, slotted bar E, and projections e e e, and valves G G G, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the float D, lever L, bar E, bell-cranks K K, valve-stem H, and valves H and I, and springs 11. and i, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the float D, lever L, bar E, crank K, stem H, sleeve 0, levers or bars U r, cam R, shaft t, and lever T, substantially as and for the purpose described.

This specification signed by me this 18th day of December, 1871.

BENJ. R. SHTGLETON.

Witnesses L. D. TURNER,

LAURENCE Dom. 

